2023

AGM 2023

 RSVP by 20 May 2023, 12noon at https://tinyurl.com/ssvpsgagm2023

SSVP Shop Sale (8-30 April)

Final Reminder: Nomination of National Council Treasurer

Dear SSVP Members 

The current National Council Treasurer (NCT) will complete his two-year term in office, and it is time to elect a new treasurer.

The position of NCT is open for nominations. National Council (“NC”) formally invites all members to participate in the nomination of candidates for the position. 

The NCT is a crucial member of our NC Executive Committee and plays a vital role in ensuring the financial health of our Society.  We are looking for a dedicated member who not only possesses the necessary qualifications but also shares the mission and values of our Society.

We urge all interested members to discern and consider this opportunity and submit the nomination form to the National Council Secretary’s email – lisa.lim@ssvpsingapore.org, as soon as possible. The nomination form should reach us by Tuesday, 11 April 2023 by 11:59PM. 

Click here for Notice & Nomination Form

Community Cares Award

SSVP Conference for the Holy Trinity was honoured to be presented with the Community Cares Award by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), Second Minister for Health and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs at the MSF Volunteer & Partner Awards 2023 on 27 January.

This was in recognition of the Conference’s support of Social Service Office @ Tampines / Pasir Ris / Punggol’s outreach initiative to vulnerable individuals in the community.

On 12 September, Vincentians from Holy Trinity together with SSO officers combed Tampines Interchange and the surrounding malls to reach out to the vulnerable individuals in the community (VICs), namely tissue peddlers, cardboard, metal can collectors and individuals asking for money on the streets, chatting with them and enquiring if they needed any help or financial assistance. Since then, the Conference has followed up with another VICs outreach exercise.

“Holy Trinity Conference has been partnering closely with SSO@ Tampines / Pasir Ris / Punggol (SSO) to help the needy in Tampines. Initially, we were unsure how we could collaborate further with SSO when the idea of this new outreach project was mooted. After consulting with our Parish Priest, we decided to give it a try. It was a first for us but we’re glad we took that step into the unknown to reach out to the vulnerable in the community who may have fallen through the cracks and may not be receiving adequate support from their home and community. Today, apart from those who have since become our Friends In Need (FINs), we also keep an eye out for the VIC in our midst, extending our friendship and assistance whenever it’s needed, sharing God’s love with them.” – Mr Jeremy Ang, Vincentian from Holy Trinity Conference who was part of the project.

SSVP would like to thank MSF and the Social Service Office @ Tampines / Pasir Ris / Punggol for presenting us with the Community Cares Award in recognition of our commitment and dedication to help those in need in our community.

Catholic News Feature

Thanks Catholic News for featuring SSVP on 5 February 2023!

Lianhe Zaobao Media Feature

Click here for Lianhe Zaobao story on 20 Jan 2023 which included SSVP Shop.

2022

SSVP Shop Christmas Sale (1-31 Dec)

The Straits Times Feature News Feature

Channel 8 News Feature

Watch here for Channel 8 News feature on SSVP Shop on 30 November 2022. 

Check Out the Latest SSVP News November 2022

Issue Highlights include:

• Feast Day Marks New Milestones & New SSVP National Council President is Commissioned (Page 1 & Page 2) –  read all about the SSVP Feast Day activities and the commissioning ceremony of the new NC President. 
• Embracing Faith – FIN Evangelisation – feature on SSVP Holy Spirit Conference’s RCIA Programme in Chinese Dialects
• Fashion it New at SSVP Shop – SSVP FINs Madam Rajeswari and family enjoy a makeover at SSVP Shop 
• Conference Highlights – Updates of Conference Activities for FINs and Outreach to the Poor as Singapore relaxes COVID-19 safety measures (Page 5, Page 6 & Page 7)   
• Lighting the Spiritual Fire – Features the recent SSVP Youth Camp and Engaging the Youths in our Social Mission work for FINs  

Channel 8 Media Feature

Check out the Season 2 Episode 3 of “House Everything” which includes a feature on SSVP Shop here. 

Channel News Asia Media Feature

ChannelNewAsia feature on 8 June donations included our very own SSVP Shop!

Watch the full story here!   

SSVP Shop GSS Sale (1-30 June)

Check Out the Latest SSVP News May 2022

Issue Highlights include:

• Lenten Giving at SSVP – read all about the Lenten activities of our various Conferences
• SSVP Nationwide Care Pack Distribution
• Spotlight On Our Conferences  – A Who’s Who in the 29 SSVP Conferences  
• News in Brief – read all about the latest happenings at SSVP
• Moved by the Vincentian Spirituality by Kenneth Sum

Notice of Annual General Meeting 

SSVP Shop Easter Sale

Channel News Asia Media Feature

ChannelNewAsia feature on thrift shops included our very own SSVP Shop on 4 January 2022!

Watch the full story here!   

Lianhe Zaobao Media Feature

Click here for Lianhe Zaobao story on 7 Feb 2022 which included SSVP Shop. 

 2021

Check Out the Latest SSVP News Nov 2021

In this issue, read all about SSVP’s latest happenings, including:

• Helping FINs Face the COVID Challenge: how SSVP has been helping our 2,000 Friends-In-Need (FINs) families cope with the on-going COVID pandemic
• SSVP Feast Day Mass: which also honoured our long-serving Vincentians while welcoming our new Vincentians
• Chance Meeting Changes Lonely Man’s Life: Personal story of FIN cared for by SSVP Conference of St Mary of the Angels
• Students Bring Cheer to FINs – CHIJ (Katong) Primary and Conference of the Holy Family collaborate on Gift of Love project
• Personal sharings by our Vincentians from Conferences of Queen of Peace and Divine Mercy.

SSVP Conference of Holy Cross Launches The Purple Candle Fundraiser

For enquiries about The Purple Candle project, please email ben.liew@ssvpsingapore.org. 

SSVP Shop Celebrates Turning 2!

We want to thank you for your amazing support these past two years with an exciting line-up of offers and activities!

Starting with our Anniversary Sale now on with 30% off all apparel till 30 September. Are you an SSVP Shop Fan? Show us your best buy at the Shop for a chance to win $50 SSVP Shop vouchers. Contest ends 10 Sept.

With the support of our wonderful donors, we will also be presenting a specially curated online auction series every weekend from 11 Sept. Unique and one-of-a-kind items will be showcased and the catalogue will be dropped at the beginning of each week on our social media platforms.

Net proceeds from the Shop go towards SSVP’s charitable cause with programmes and services that support over 3,300 low-income and disadvantaged beneficiaries in Singapore, regardless of race, religion or nationality.

Check Out the Latest SSVP News May 2021

Read all about the latest happenings at SSVP!

Issue Highlights:

Notice of Annual General Meeting 

2020

All these years, SSVP has been relying on donations primarily from parishioners in the 29 Catholic churches. It typically spends more than 96% of its annual funds on financial aid and programmes for the poor.

Whilst there is no shortage of case referrals to the Society, we are, regrettably, already operating at full capacity with our current funds.

Existing funds are insufficient to kickstart or expand aid and communications programmes or large-scale fundraising initiatives.

With the suspension of masses in end-February 2020, our main source of funding dried up. We expect that masses at churches are likely to remain curtailed for quite some time more and this will adversely impact our receipts.

We spend S$5.2 million a year on our poor and this includes S$330,000 per month as cash aid and S$22,000 to supply milk and diapers to FINs’ babies and toddlers.

On behalf of all whom we serve, we appeal to the kindness and generosity of our donors. We look forward to your support in any feasible way.

Our COVID-19 Response

• Amid the circuit breaker and social distancing restrictions, our members numbering 750 (called Vincentians) are working hard, by staying connected with the poor and with those families grappling with the crisis wrought by this pandemic, albeit via feasible (mainly non-physical) methods of communication.
• New responses required, between mid-April and early May 2020, saw SSVP obtaining and giving refurbished laptops to as many as 90 children of our FIN families. This has certainly brought some cheer to these parents and children, empowering them with the very means of Home-based Learning and helping them forge ahead in their academic endeavours.
• We have been tapping Internet banking mechanisms more than ever before, to ensure that each and every household, under our care and support, is not denied regular, sustained financial aid.
• SSVP Singapore has obtained the approval of the NCSS, to implement the first post-circuit breaker round of delivery – of protection and care packs – to all our FINs.
• These are trying times indeed, and many are likely to lose their jobs. Our Vincentians are, nonetheless, keeping a close watch and we will adopt every means possible to help such people in our midst.

On June 6 and 7, SSVP Volunteers and Vincentians with approval from the NCSS, made a timely distribution of care packs to almost all of its many Friends in Need (FINs). An anonymous donor initiated and sponsored, who come forth the care packs during this Covid-19 crisis. Our committed members and volunteers from 29 SSVP Conferences observed social distancing and other relevant Covid-19 guidelines, as they prepared and distributed care packs to more than 3,300 FINs across Singapore.

SSVP Care Pack Distribution June and December 2020

Agape Village’s Car park was designated as the goods central collection and distribution point. Our teams started the process a day before, on June 5, to receive the goods. They thenset out to fill each care pack bag with items that would bring a smile to the faces of our needy brothers and sisters in Christ. The packs included masks, bottles of antibacterial hand wash, cookies, muffins and vitamin C tablets. A big thank you goes out to the anonymous donor.

We also thank Cocoa Trees for the generous discount for the cookies, and Caritas and Agape Village for their support in making this event a resounding success.

A similar project was carried out on 5^th December 2021 to pack and distribute a festive care pack for 2,000 FIN families, island wide.

2019

On Sept 21, Vincentians gathered to celebrate the inauguration of SSVP House by Mr Desmond Lee, who was then Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development. Rev Fr Eugene Vaz, SSVP’s Spiritual Advisor blessed SSVP House (located on 501 Geylang Road) which also incorporates SSVP Shop, our first social enterprise project.

MP for Marine Parade GRC (Geylang Serai), Professor Fatimah Lateef was also present to celebrate with us and our guests. We are grateful to God for His generous blessings and pray that SSVP’s charitable mission will continue to bear fruit for the good of those we help and journey with through their challenges.  SSVP’s National Council President Florence Tan (extreme right) is seen with Minister Lee and Rev Fr Vaz on this joyous occasion.